January 2008

Poolbeg Incinerator Oral Hearing - Jan 09 2008, 5:37 PM
The EPA yesterday advised that it will hold an oral hearing on the Poolbeg waste incinerator licence. The oral hearing will be held to listen to objections and concerns about its Proposed Decision to licence Dublin City Council to operate a non hazardous waste incinerator at Pigeon House Road, Poolbeg Peninsula, Dublin 4.

Overall decrease in Ireland’s Greenhouse Gases in 2006 - Jan 15 2008, 11:09 AM
Ireland’s Greenhouse Gas emissions fell by 0.8 per cent in 2006, as compared to 2005. Figures released today by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) show that, while Ireland’s Kyoto target in the period 2008-2012 is 62.84 million tonnes per annum, Ireland’s emissions in 2006 of 69.77 million tonnes were almost seven million tonnes above this limit.

Dioxin Levels in Ireland are well below EU Limits - Jan 18 2008, 10:02 AM
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released the latest report on dioxin levels in the Irish environment (based on the levels in cows’ milk in a 2006 survey). The report shows that all of the samples had levels well below the relevant EU limit.

EPA Climate Change Lecture Series Continues - Jan 21 2008, 11:00 AM
The EPA climate change lecture series continues this week with a lecture by Dr Eric Wolff of the British Antarctic Survey entitled Meltdown? – Evidence of Climate Change from Polar Science. This lecture will take place in the Round Room, The Mansion House this Tuesday 22 January at 6.30pm.

EPA uses new enforcement powers to improve drinking water quality - Jan 24 2008, 7:00 AM
The EPA today released a report on the Provision and Quality of Drinking Water in Ireland: A Report for the Years 2006 – 2007.
This is the EPA’s first report on drinking water quality since new Regulations were introduced in March 2007. These new Regulations provide a greater level of consumer protection by requiring public water suppliers to notify the EPA and the Health Service Executive where there is a potential risk to human health, and to comply with their directions.

Ireland in danger of missing EU target for biodegradable waste diversion from landfill - Jan 29 2008, 4:00 PM
Ireland is now in significant danger of missing its 2010 target for diverting biodegradable municipal waste from landfill, according to the National Waste Report 2006, published today by the Environmental Protection Agency. Overall, the report shows that although the quantity of waste that was recycled increased between 2005 and 2006, so too did the total quantity of waste generated.

EPA Conference to Showcase Environmental Protection Research Projects - Feb 05 2008, 11:29 AM
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will showcase over fifty environmental protection research projects at a conference in Dublin this week. The conference, entitled Today’s Environmental Research, Tomorrow’s Environmental Protection, will be held at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham on Wednesday 6th and Thursday 7th February.

March 2008

EPA Climate Change Lecture Series - Climate Change Gain v Pain - Mar 06 2008, 11:30 AM
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) climate change lecture series continues this week with a lecture by Mr Michael Zammit Cutajar, co-chair of the United Nation’s working group implementing the Bali Roadmap in search of a post-Kyoto international climate change agreement (Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action).

Minister Presides at Turning of the Sod for EPA Headquarters Extension - Mar 07 2008, 2:56 PM
Mr. John Gormley, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government today presided at the official turning of the sod to mark the commencement of the new extension to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) headquarters in Johnstown Castle Estate, Wexford.

EPA announces final decision for Ireland's National Allocation Plan - Mar 05 2008, 11:00 AM
Following EU Commission acceptance on 5th February 2008 of the final draft of Ireland’s National Allocation Plan for 2008 – 2012, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) yesterday took the Final Allocation Decision on the Plan. This decision finalises the allocations of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission allowances which will be made under the Emissions Trading Directive to Ireland’s major GHG emitters for the next five years, the “Kyoto” period 2008 - 2012.

EPA hears objections to its Proposed Decision on the Fingal landfill facility - Mar 03 2008, 9:00 AM
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today began an oral hearing in Balbriggan, Co. Dublin. The oral hearing has been convened by the EPA to listen to objections and concerns about its Proposed Decision to licence Fingal County Council to develop an engineered landfill facility and public recycling facility at Nevitt, Lusk, County Dublin.

April 2008

EPA Climate Change Lecture Series- Final Lecture by Minister John Gormley - Apr 07 2008, 4:07 PM
Mr. John Gormley T.D., Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government will give the concluding lecture in the EPA’s climate change series on Tuesday 8th April in the Round Room of the Mansion House, Dawson Street. Minister Gormley will outline Ireland’s strategy to manage greenhouse gas emissions and achieve our emissions reduction targets. The lecture will begin at 6.30pm.

EPA Remedial Action List (RAL) for Drinking Water Supplies - Apr 02 2008, 10:20 AM
The EPa Drinking Water Quality report released in January highlighted that 339 public water supplies required examination from source to consumer to determine whether replacements or upgrades were needed, or whether operational practices should be improved. The EPA today released the list referred to in the report.

EPA Oral Hearing- Proposed Decision on Poolbeg Waste Incinerator - Apr 11 2008, 11:29 AM
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will begin an oral hearing in Dublin next Monday 14th April 2008. The oral hearing has been convened by the EPA to listen to objections and concerns about its Proposed Decision to licence Dublin City Council to operate a non hazardous waste incinerator at Pigeon House Road, Poolbeg Peninsula, Dublin 4 in the Anna Livia Ballroom, Gresham Hotel,
O’ Connell Street, Dublin at 10am.

Air Quality Monitoring Knocklyon, Dublin 16 - Apr 22 2008, 2:36 PM
Real time air quality data for Knocklyon, Dublin 16 is now available on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website. This work is part of an on-going comprehensive assessment of air quality in Ireland.

EPA announces new Environmental Project for the Hotel and Hospitality Sector - Apr 23 2008, 11:43 AM
The EPA National Waste Prevention Programme today announced a new project for the Hotel and Hospitality Sector, which will work with individual Irish hotels over the next four years to significantly improve environmental management practices, prevent waste and encourage resource efficiency, while reducing operating costs for the sector. The announcement was made at the second National Environmental Conference for the hotel and tourism sector in Dublin.

May 2008

Quality of Irish bathing areas remains good - May 07 2008, 7:00 AM
The quality of Ireland’s bathing waters remains good, with 97% of designated bathing sites meeting the EU Mandatory standards. This is according to findings released today by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in their report entitled The Quality of Bathing Water in Ireland – A Report for the Year 2007.

17 Communities Awarded for their Efforts in Greening their Homes - May 26 2008, 10:15 AM
An Taisce, in partnership with the EPA, today officially launched the Green Home programme. At the launch Mr. John Gormley, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, awarded the participating communities with the Green Home flag, in acknowledgement of their efforts to improve environmental actions within the home.

June 2008

New EPA Directors Appointed by Government - Jun 05 2008, 4:41 PM
The Environmental Protection Agency is pleased to announce the appointment, by government, of Mr Micheál Ó Cinnéide as Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, and the reappointment of Mr Larry Stapleton as Director for a second term.

Air Quality Monitoring in Letterkenny - Jun 20 2008, 11:26 AM
The EPA began assessing air quality in Letterkenny on 16th May 2008 using an EPA mobile laboratory located in the grounds of the Donegal County Museum on High Road. The assessment will take place over a period of approximately six months.

European Environment Agency photographic exhibition - Jun 26 2008, 2:28 PM
Changing Climate, Changing People, a European Environment Agency (EEA) photographic exhibition presenting images of climate change in Greenland, will be on display in Ireland until 11 July 2007. The exhibition is currently being housed in the Office of Public Works, 51 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2 and all are welcome to attend.

July 2008

EPA provides easy access to data on flows and water levels in Ireland - Jul 08 2008, 11:02 AM
For those who need to know about the flows and water levels in Ireland’s rivers and lakes, and for anyone with a general interest in such matters, an important improvement in the accessibility of such information has now been made by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - with the launch of a new web access facility.

August 2008

Farm Waste Prevention Shows Cost and Environmental Savings for Farmers - Aug 15 2008, 11:52 AM
A new booklet to help farmers cut costs and improve their environmental performance will be launched tomorrow at the Tydavnet show in Co Monaghan. The booklet Farming the Environment can be found on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website at www.lapd.ie.

Greenbusiness.ie is launched for small and medium enterprises in Ireland - Sep 03 2008, 11:00 AM
With energy costs, and waste and water charges increasing, businesses and other organisations are starting to look at reducing their overheads and adopting smarter, greener ways of doing business. To help businesses achieve this aim, the National Waste Prevention Programme, led by the EPA, has funded and developed greenbusiness.ie.

EPA Publishes National Hazardous Waste Management Plan - Sep 15 2008, 11:00 AM
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today published a National Hazardous Waste Management Plan for the period 2008-2012 for the prevention, reduction and management of hazardous waste in Ireland.

EPA Air Quality in Ireland 2007 report released - Sep 16 2008, 11:00 AM
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released its Air Quality in Ireland Report 2007. The release of the report coincides with EU Mobility Week, which runs from 16th to 22nd September 2008. This year’s theme is ‘clean air for all’.

EPA Statement in relation to lead in drinking water supplies - Sep 29 2008, 4:48 PM
Since the introduction of the Drinking Water Regulations in March 2007, eleven local authorities have notified the EPA of exceedances of the lead parametric value in relation to 23 out of the 944 public water supplies.

October 2008

Ireland’s Environment – An Asset Under Threat - Oct 08 2008, 9:30 AM
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released the fourth ‘state of the environment’ report, entitled Ireland’s Environment 2008. This report assesses the overall quality of Ireland’s environment, the pressures on it and the way we are responding as a society to current and emerging environmental issues.

EPA welcomes decrease in Ireland’s Greenhouse Gases in 2007 - Oct 15 2008, 11:45 PM
Ireland’s Greenhouse Gas emissions fell by 0.66 per cent in 2007, as compared to 2006. Provisional figures released today by the EPA include trends since 1990 and show Ireland’s status in meeting our obligations set under the Kyoto Protocol.

EPA Climate Change Lecture Series Continues - Oct 16 2008, 9:44 AM
Following on the success of the climate change lecture series during 2007-2008 the EPA will host a number of occasional climate change lectures in autumn 2008 and spring 2009. The first of these will be given by Professor Wilfried Haeberli, Director of the World Glacier Monitoring Service on Tuesday 21st October 2008.

November 2008

Dioxin Levels in Ireland are well below EU Limits - Nov 04 2008, 12:00 PM
The latest Environmental Protection Agency report on dioxin levels in the Irish environment (based on dioxin levels measured in cows’ milk in a 2007 survey) shows that all of the samples had dioxin levels well below the relevant EU limits. The report also shows that dioxin levels measured in this survey compare favourably with those taken from similar surveys in EU and other countries.

Water Quality in Ireland 2004 - 2006 - Nov 12 2008, 11:55 PM
The latest report on water quality in Ireland to be released by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Water Quality in Ireland 2004 – 2006, assesses the quality of lakes, rivers, canals, coastal areas and groundwater and presents a detailed picture of the quality of Irish waters.

Meeting the Key Environmental Challenges for Ireland - Nov 28 2008, 10:00 AM
An EPA workshop will today consider the four main environmental challenges facing Ireland. The workshop will provide a forum to debate the state of Ireland’s environment, and the actions required to address the main challenges facing the country.

Contamination of Pork Products with PCBs - Dec 09 2008, 12:52 PM
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is assisting the Department of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries and other State Agencies in their investigations into the circumstances surrounding the contamination of pork products with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).